Bekaert and GAH-Alberts join forces in Germany

Bekaert, headquartered in Belgium, and GAH-Alberts, headquartered in Germany, have signed an agreement to jointly serve the DIY market segment in Germany. The objective of the agreement is to combine the product range of both companies into one complete offer covering fencings, garden equipment and garden decoration products and to serve the DIY channel with one common marketing, sales and logistic organisation.

GAH-Alberts from Herschied (Germany) is a leading European manufacturer and supplier of a wide variety of hardware and garden products with a strong position in the DIY sector. Total manpower of Alberts for production, logistics, sales and customer service is more than 1,000 people realising a turnover of more than EUR 100 million.

Bekaert is the world’s leading producer of steel wire, steel wire products, steel cord and a fast growing producer of advanced materials with more than 70 production plants in more than 20 countries and with over 16,000 employees realising a turnover in 1998 of
EUR 2.52 billion. The Group has a leading position in the fencing business in Europe as well for agricultural, residential, public as industrial applications. Its fences are sold through a network of wholesalers and increasingly through the DIY channel.

Following the increasing concentration and internationalisation in the European distribution, Alberts and Bekaert have decided to combine their strenghts in the DIY segment in Germany and to offer one common product range and one common service to their distribution partners for their fencing and garden products. This combination will be beneficial for both partners as well as for their customers and the consumers.

This agreement has no influence on the distribution in the other European countries. Sale of fences through the wholesale and retail channel and sales to the agricultural sector and fence installers in Germany will be further made by Bekaert’s sales team in Germany.

This cooperation will start on the 15^th of October 1999 in preparation of the year 2000 season and is expected to be fully operational within a year.